News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 21

INSIDE NEWS-PRESS SECTION I Obituaries 3C I In our schools 4C I Bird controversy 5C I Classified 5-12C I Ann Landers 6C METRO DESK: 335-0350 (Monday Friday, 9 a.m. 7 p.m.) A VICTIM OF PLANS TO WIDEN MLK OES After 52 years of business at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Thompson Street, the City Fish Market was torn down Monday. The state Department of Transportation wanted it removed to widen MLK. Historic City Fish Market torn down K.T.

WARNKENews-Press While Eicher dismounted from his growling machine to spray torrents of dusty-busting water on the rubble a $2,500 job for him a group of firefighters stood inside the Central Station across the street watching the action. "In the 1970s that place was about it around here," said Capt. Ronnie Wright. He recalled eating egg sandwiches and chicken livers prepared at the market. For Wilkinson, the fish dinners couldn't compare to the ample supply of inexpensive blue crabs.

And she still can get them at Jesse Thompson's new location, the state Farmer's Market on Edison Avenue. "I'll follow him wherever he goes," she said. V. I City Fish I ny Market Aye. flK 'l Evans Ave.

I Dr. Martin Luther i King Jr. Blvd. Edison Ave. Ark 13 Hanson St.

o) co 1 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1996 OTHER ACTION ROAD WIDENING: Commissioners agreed they'd like to see the widening of State Road 78 from Slater Road to Interstate 75 given a higher priority that would get the job done earlier. The project was the No. 2 priority of the county's Metropolitan Planning Organization until 1993, but now is No. 15. County officials will ask the group to put it back at No.

2 at a meeting Sept. 20. But even then, under the three scenarios being considered the job wouldn't be completed until 2002 at the earliest. METRO EXTENSION: State transportation officials said they don't believe a plan to build an extension of Metro Parkway near some tracks owned by the CSX Railroad is feasible. Commissioner Ray Judah has been pushing to relocate the tracks and run the road on that path to avoid going through a south Lee neighborhood.

State officials said the plan is too expensive and has drawn objections from the South Florida Water Management District because the road would run too close to Ten Mile Canal. buildinga jail, but having to run it. "We've got serious problems coming up again. We had serious problems a couple of years ago, and now we're at a real crossroads again." Stilwell said the board has two choices raise taxes or keep finding ways to make government more efficient. Since joining the county in 1992, Stilwell has reduced the county's labor force by more than 300 employees, saving taxpayers millions of See SPENDING 2C Hospitals try safer needle BySTEPHEN ROTH News-Press staff writer Lee Memorial Hospital System is using new puncture-proof needles to protect medical staff from accidently sticking themselves after drawing blood from patients a special concern with AIDS, hepatitis and other infectious diseases.

Lee Memorial introduced patented Punctur-Guard needles to its hospitals in June to alleviate fears of "needlesticks" among staff. Cape Coral Hospital, which didn't merge with Lee Memorial until July, is the only hospital in the system that doesn't yetusethenew needle. See NEEDLE 2C How it works 2C voters the opportunity to express their opinion about adding a property tax of 50 cents per $1,000 of taxable value to purchase high-priority, environmentally critical lands in Lee County from willing sellers. If you want to contact the committee, write Conservation 2020 P.O. Box 07278, Fort Myers, FL 33919, or call 482-0403.

pl 3 News-Press mm Commissioners agree spending must be cut By MIKEHOYEM News-Press staff writer The need for more jail beds has put Lee County at a financial crossroads, and the county must keep looking for ways to cut spending even if it means more layoffs. That was the consensus Monday among county commissioners, who agreed to continue studying how to add more jail space while looking to cut spending in other areas. One way to cut, officials revealed, may be to consolidate yet another pair of county departments communications and data services. A study on how that might be done is in the works, said Deputy County Administrator Bill Hammond, who added that how much money it could save and how it could affect 71 employees aren't yet known. Consultants for the county have been studying the need for jail beds and how best to provide them for more than a year.

The county's jail and stockade are overcrowded; last week, state inspectors gave Sheriff John McDougall 30 days to come up with a solution. At a management meeting Monday, commissioners informally agreed to pay consultant Dan Wiley $90,000 to continue his work. He's looking at several options, including adding space to the existing jail, building a jail annex, and seeking bids from private companies to build and run a jail. Not long after Wiley was told to Keep working, talk turned to how to pay for a new jail. STILWELL: "We're going to "We've got start having to serious stockpile some problems." money here," County Administrator Don Stilwell told commissioners.

"We're talking about major, major dollars not just SW Florida index NEW CAR BUYERS: Ninety-four percent of all new cars bought in Lee County are purchased by year-round residents. Etc. REFERENDUM ORGANIZATION: Now that Lee County commissioners have placed the Conservation 2020 Referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot, the people who proposed the referendum are forming the Conservation 2020 Political Committee to take their case to the public. The referendum will give Lee lM jrJ Mllr -II Dudley for attorney avoid running off the road, it was an unfortunate amputation of a vital part of city life that started at the location in 1944.

"I think it's awful," said Betsy Wilkinson, on her way home from a day job at North American Title. "Everybody went there, it didn't matter who you were, whether you were black or white, or where you came from," she said. Ditto for Henry Greshman, a 38-, year-old Dunbar resident who stood across the street to watch the demise of a structure that once embraced long lines of the fish hungry. "I grew up in LaBelle, but I can remember coming in there when I was, oh boy, about 10. 1 used to eat fish dinners," he said.

general? Dudley was automatically reelected in July to a four-year term when no one filed to run against him. He would have to resign his Senate seat to run for attorney general, leaving the district that includes parts of Lee and Collier counties open for a new senator who would bechoseninl998. But because of Florida's legislative term limits, Dudley could not seek reelection to the Senate in fouryears. By running for attorney general he would have to leave his Senate seat two years early. But if he lost the statewide race, he could come back and run again for Senate in 2000, after being out of the office for two years.

"There's no rush to judgment," Dudley said. "I enjoy representing these two counties in the Senate. But I can't hold the office after 2000, so this would be a question of leaving two years earlier and whether I can build strong support early." Dudley, an attorney, was elected to the state House in 1982, then to the state Senate in 1986. LOCAL Tosignup.call 433-5301. RESOURCE FAIR: Health screenings for HIV and blood pressure, immunizations and help with managing your money are just some of the services the Salvation Army and other Lee County social service agencies will focus on at a Community Resource Fair on Saturday.

It's from noon to 4 p.m. at Cornerstone Ministries-Dunbar Community, 3220 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. in Fort Myers. It's free and that includes food, drinks and fun surprises for the whole family.

Questions? Call Peggy Hague at 334-3745. By ROGER WILLIAMS News-Press staff writer FORT MYERS Donnie Eich-er's John Deere back hoe slammed through the wall of the old City Fish Market on Monday with a diesel roar that did more than ring out the old it dropped It cold, proving that history is nothing but rubble and remembrance. The white building fixed like a bur between toes on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Thompson Street was an irritant only to the state Department of Transportation, which removed it to widen MLK. For gawking passersby, who executed wheel-deft gymnastics to "I don't mind a primary.

In fact, a primary would be good for the party and the candidate," Dudley said. "But I'm talking to people to see who else might be interested." One possible contender, Sen. Charlie Crist, R-St. Petersburg, instead DUDLEY: May run in 1998. is preparing a cam paign for Demo cratic U.S.

Sen. Bob Graham's seat, regardless of whether Graham runs for governor as expected. Graham, a former governor, has said he may run for his old seat but wants to wait until after the November election before deciding. "I'll also be looking at how Florida votes in the fall presidential election," Dudley said'That will be very telling." Get involved BOARD WORKSHOP: The first in a series of workshops for board members, executive committee members, volunteers, administrators and staff members of non-profit organizations is set for Wednesday. Wednesday's topic is "Essentials of a Successful Board" and will be presented by David Robinson, president emeritus of Edison Community College.

Although it's too late to register for Wednesday's session, 1 3 more workshops are planned: Oct. 8, the topic is Planning. Nov. 12, it's Communication. Eleven more workshops are scheduled from January to July.

There is a fee. Cape state senator considers candidacy BETTY PARKER News-Press staff writer CAPE CORAL Sen. Fred Dudley, R-Cape Coral, is thinking seriously about resigning his office to run for Florida's attorney general in 1998. "If it's an open seat and I can muster good support, then I'll do it," Dudley said Monday of the statewide office. "I'm in the talking stages right now, but If I can get the pledges of support I want by December, I'll open an account and start raising money" probably in January.

His decision is based on two key factors: the widespread expectation that Incumbent Attorney General Bob Butterworth will run for governor when Gov. Lawton Chiles' term ends in 1998, and whether any other strong Republicans are interested in the race. Schools K.T. WARNKENews-Press DRAWING BLOOD: Technician Marija Little draws blood from Dean Schluessler of Fort Myers with the new Punctur-Guard needle Monday at Lee Memorial Hospital. LINE Community meeting HAVE YOUR SAY: The News-Press hosts its monthly community meeting at 5:45 p.m.

today at its downtown Fort Myers office, 2442 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to discuss issues and events of particular importance to Southwest Florida's minority communities. We're especially interested in story ideas. Questions? Call Larry Strauss at 335-0492 weekdays.

Inside MAYOR UNDER FIRE: Cape Coral Mayor Roger Butler on Monday survived a councilman's push to force him to step down white a city investigation continues. Story 2C ART ON DISPLAY: An exhibit of student art, "Designs and Dreams of Young Artists IV," with 620 works by 580 students from 50 schools is the largest exhibition of student art in the state, opens Sept. 17 in the Dr. James A. Adams Public Education Center.

This fourth annual exhibit includes painting, collage, photography, pottery and sculpture. The dedication, reception and tour start at 5:15 p.m. at 2055 Central Fort Myers. Neighborhood news FORT MYERS: Meeting of Turn Around Fort Myers Anti-Drug Marchers at the Fort Myers Police Department, 7 p.m. today.

Questions? Call 334-4155..